Word Origin & History

dig early 14c. (diggen), of uncertain origin, probably related to dike and ditch, either via O.Fr. diguer (ult. from a Gmc. source), or directly from an unrecorded O.E. word. Native words were deolfan, grafan (medial -f- pronounced as "v" in O.E.). Meaning "thrust or poke" (as with an elbow) is from 1819; figurative sense of this is from 1840. Slang sense of "understand" first recorded 1934 in Black English, probably based on the notion of "excavate." A slightly varied sense of "appreciate" emerged 1939. Noun meaning "archaeological expedition" is from 1896. Related: Digging.

Example Sentences for digging out

He had obeyed orders, digging out the red ore, and that was all he knew.

Those workmen are digging out of a cellar some barrels of whisky.

In a corner of the coffin was an urn which was broken in the digging out.

The “digging out” of the Major did not prove to be an entire success.

They worked cheerfully, day after day, digging out the bowels of their gold-pit.

For borers and rabbits wash with whale-oil soap, digging out any borers that may be in with a knife.

Zebedee was digging out the crowd, who had, one and all, taken headers.

You have no objection to our digging out a den of coyotes back here, have you?